Methods and systems for specifying an avatar

Abstract

Avatars, methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that carry out presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort; measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic; associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state; and specifying at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A system comprising:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort;   Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic;   Circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state; and   Circuitry for specifying at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting the at least one characteristic to the at least one member of a population cohort, the at least one characteristic associated with the at least one member of the population cohort.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting the at least one characteristic to the at least one member of a population cohort, the at least one characteristic not associated with a member of the population cohort.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of an established population cohort.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of an established population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting the at least one characteristic to at least one member of a established age cohort.   
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of an established population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting the at least one characteristic to at least one member of a established gender cohort.   
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of an established population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting the at least one characteristic to at least one member of a established ethnic cohort.   
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one of a physical appearance characteristic, a language characteristic, a cultural characteristic, a personal interest characteristic, an educational characteristic, or a personality characteristic to the at least one member of the population cohort.   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one of a physical appearance characteristic, a language characteristic, a cultural characteristic, a personal interest characteristic, an educational characteristic, or a personality characteristic to the at least one member of the population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one of a facial feature characteristic, a body feature characteristic, a clothing characteristic, or an accoutrement characteristic as the at least one physical appearance characteristic.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one of a physical appearance characteristic, a language characteristic, a cultural characteristic, a personal interest characteristic, an educational characteristic, or a personality characteristic to the at least one member of the population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one of a regional dialect characteristic, an accent characteristic, a manner of speech characteristic, or a voice characteristic as the at least one language characteristic.   
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one of a physical appearance characteristic, a language characteristic, a cultural characteristic, a personal interest characteristic, an educational characteristic, or a personality characteristic to the at least one member of the population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one of a gesture characteristic, a food characteristic, a hairstyle characteristic, a cosmetics characteristic, or a facial hair characteristic as the at least one cultural characteristic.   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one of a physical appearance characteristic, a language characteristic, a cultural characteristic, a personal interest characteristic, an educational characteristic, or a personality characteristic to the at least one member of the population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one of a hobby interest characteristic, a travel interest characteristic, a shopping interest characteristic, a pet interest characteristic, a television or movie interest characteristic, a music interest characteristic, a politics interest characteristic, or a sports interest characteristic as the at least one personal interest characteristic.   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one of a physical appearance characteristic, a language characteristic, a cultural characteristic, a personal interest characteristic, an educational characteristic, or a personality characteristic to the at least one member of the population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one of a literature interest characteristic, a science interest characteristic, a mathematics interest characteristic, or a college or university characteristic as the at least one educational interest characteristic.   
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one of a physical appearance characteristic, a language characteristic, a cultural characteristic, a personal interest characteristic, an educational characteristic, or a personality characteristic to the at least one member of the population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one of a talkative personality characteristic, an aggressive personality characteristic, a deferential personality characteristic, a humorous personality characteristic, or a whimsical personality characteristic as the at least one personality characteristic.   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one of a virtual world participant, a computer game participant, an online shopping participant, or a social networking website participant as the at least one member of the population cohort.   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort comprises:
 Circuitry for presenting at least two characteristics separated by a time delay to the at least one member of a population cohort.   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort using functional near-infrared imaging, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic.   
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort using at least one of electroencephalography, computed axial tomography, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, functional near-infrared imaging, or magnetoencephalography, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic.   
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one brain activity surrogate marker of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one brain activity surrogate marker proximate to the at least one presented characteristic.   
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one brain activity surrogate marker of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one brain activity surrogate marker proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring the at least one brain activity surrogate marker of the at least one member of the population cohort using at least one of iris dilation or constriction, gaze tracking, skin response, or voice response, the at least one brain activity surrogate marker proximate to the at least one characteristic.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort in near real time, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic.   
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to at least two presented characteristics.   
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to at least one of a presented hairstyle characteristic or a presented eye color characteristic.   
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to at least one presented characteristic of the member of the population cohort.   
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to at least one presented characteristic of a different member of the population cohort.   
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to at least one presented characteristic of a member of a different population cohort.   
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic comprises:
 Circuitry for measuring with permission at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic.   
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating at least one electrical brain activity with the at least one mental state.   
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating at least one brain blood oxygen level with the at least one mental state.   
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating at least one of glucose metabolism or blood flow with the at least one mental state.   
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex with a mental state indicating approval.   
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in at least one of the frontopolar cortex, the prefrontal cortex, the ventral striatum, the orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, or the nucleus accumbens with a mental state indicating approval.   
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in the prefrontal cortex with a mental state indicating brand preference.   
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the posterior parietal cortex, the occipital cortex, and the left premotor area with a mental state indicating brand preference.   
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in at least one of the inferior precuneus, posterior cingulate, right parietal cortex, right superior frontal gyrus, right supramarginal gyrus, or the ventromedial prefrontal cortex with a mental state indicating brand preference.   
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in at least one of the insula, the lateral orbital frontal cortex, or the amygdala with a mental state indicating emotional disapproval.   
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with a mental state indicating objective approval.   
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in the caudate nucleus with a mental state indicating trust.   
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in the hippocampus with a mental state indicating novelty in a perceived object.   
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating activity in the hippocampus with a mental state indicating lack of inhibition toward a perceived object.   
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for associating at least one brain activity surrogate marker with at least one mental state.   
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for specifying at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for specifying the at least one presented characteristic as the at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state.   
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for specifying at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for specifying the at least one avatar attribute based on a mental state based on a physiologic activity at or above a defined threshold.   
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry for specifying at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state comprises:
 Circuitry for specifying the at least one avatar attribute based on a mental state based on a physiologic activity signature.   
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 46  further comprising:
 Circuitry for performing successive iterations of the presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort, the measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic, and the associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state.   
     
     
         91 . A computer program product comprising:
 A signal-bearing medium bearing   (a) one or more instructions for presenting at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort;   (b) one or more instructions for measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to the at least one presented characteristic;   (c) one or more instructions for associating the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state; and   (d) one or more instructions for specifying at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state.   
     
     
         92 . The computer program product of  claim 91 , wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         93 . The computer program product of  claim 91 , wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a recordable medium. 
     
     
         94 . The computer program product of  claim 91 , wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium. 
     
     
         95 . A system comprising:
 A computing device; and   Instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to   (a) present at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort;   (b) measure physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population cohort, the physiologic activity proximate to the at least one characteristic;   (c) associate the at least one physiological activity with at least one mental state; and   (d) specify at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state.   
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 95  wherein the computing device comprises:
 One or more of a personal digital assistant (pda), a personal entertainment device, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a computing system comprised of a cluster of servers, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer.   
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 95  wherein the computing device is operable to present the at least one characteristic to at least one member of a population cohort from at least one memory. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 95  wherein the computing device is operable to specify from at least one memory the at least one avatar attribute based on the at least one mental state.